It was among the most painful few hours of Annie’s life. Annie watched the clock tick by slowly as the doctor examined her hand in its current condition, wincing whenever the doctor touched it. And to think, she thought, the day had started off so promising.

Before Ascension 133-

Annie had never been a good driver.

It’s not that she was bad or that being on the road haunted her or anything. But having to drive her way to a place without the comfort of Ezekiel or anyone…that always gave her hives.

Especially parking. God’s sake, parking. Annie could not park a car if her life depended on it. No matter what she did, it was hopeless.

Regardless, the show must go on and she managed to park her car at the arena Ascension was located at tonight.

Annie Halloway:(To herself)
Lands sakes that was excruciating...

Annie proceeded to open the door, ready to kick some ass and take some names. She imagined vividly about how she was going to twist the body of her opponent, making them tap to her Hallowed Road and having them cry little a little baby. To her, this wasn’t just another day in the office, this was going to be good old fashioned sci-

SLAM!

Annie could feel a sharp, almost stabbing like pain enter her hand as the door suddenly shut itself. She had to physically restrain herself from cursing like a sailor on the high sea. Her eyes wandering around the area, they scattered about trying to find the culprit for Annie’s sudden injury.

And there she spotted him. The man she was set to face. Matt Tastic. Storming off and on his way into the arena. Murderous thoughts began to pour down Annie’s head. Ready to murder a veteran who’s peak had long since passed in her mind.

We all know what happened from there. Though Annie gave it everything she had, she would fail to defeat the hall of famer thanks to a well timed Headache Driver. It was at that moment she realized that someone back at ATV had sorely underestimated him.

Backstage, After Ascension 133-

And so there she was. Stuck backstage, watching life drudge on by, forced to have a doctor watch over her and amongst other injuries she suffered, a hand that hurt like a motherfucker.

Doctor: No need to worry Ms. Halloway, it’s just a minor sprain.

Annie Halloway:Minor? Minor?! It feels like the apocalypse is nigh!

The doctor could only shrug. He got that response a lot.

Doctor:Well, that’s what happens when you get into wrestling. You deal with injuries like this.

Doctors are some of the most helpful people you could know. Annie realized that. But right now, being in the office was the last place she wanted to be in. But alas there was nothing Annie could do about it.

And there was nothing the doctor could do to change the mood except diagnose and bandage the people he checked.

Doctor:Just rest it for a few days and it should be feeling good as new.

Annie rolled her eyes as she jumped off the chair and trudged her way back to her car, shuddering at the fact that she was going to have to drive on one hand. With any luck, she was going to be on the cover of every newspaper saying that she died from a car accident.

ATV Headquarters, The Next Day:

The mood was as eerie as it was somber. The second defeat in a row for ATV, and against someone she thought was a pushover.

Annie Halloway:As you know. We had a heartbreaking loss against Matt Tastic.

Annie glared all across the boardroom. She was pissed inside, but there was no way she was going to go rabid on those around her. Especially not Ezekiel or Alexander or Sydney. She sighed, trying her best to hide her inner rage.

Annie Halloway:I’m not going to sugarcoat anything, some of us here need to learn a lesson for underestimating his skill and wickedness.

Of course, that was her own doing. She should’ve known better than to tangle with a wily veteran who was looking for a shot of redemption…

But she couldn’t say it. So instead, she picked some random guy named Joe and with the guidance of Alexander sentenced him to spend some time at the Cage of Correction. Annie had to admit, even though she knew how people typically reacted to threats of being sent there, it warmed her near subzero heart to hear the screams and begging of someone who had failed her for the last time.

The meeting ended earlier than usual. No bombastic fanfare, no grand speech, no nothing. Just a simple ‘carry on as normal’ did the trick and she stormed her way onto her private room, her faithful companion Ezekiel following her.

Ezekiel Roche:You are feeling better Ms. Halloway?

Annie Halloway:(Upset)What the fuck do you think Ezekiel? My hand is in a state of disrepair and thanks to that...hooligan, I have to stay inside and resist from any physical activity! How i’m supposed to prepare for my next match now i’ll never know!

Ezekiel could feel the anger boiling inside Annie’s body, visibly shaking from how stark raving mad she was. There wasn’t much he could to make the situation better.

Ezekiel Roche:It is for the best. We would hate to see you injure yourself further.

Annie could only stare at Ezekiel as the two entered Annie’s private oasis. She loved him, truly she did. But this was one of those times where she wished to tear the living crap out of him…

But she didn’t, easing up at him and sighing. Her doctor told her not to get physical and as much as she wanted to kill him, Annie also knew the importance of listening to one’s doctor.

Annie Halloway:You mean well Ezekiel and I thank you. But I am not in the finest of moods right now. Please, let me be.

Ezekiel Roche:As you wish.

That was the last she’d hear of him for a time. For an unidentified time, she was confined to her room, forced to rest on her bed and to stay away from confrontation or working out.

It sucked.
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Well, it didn’t completely suck. There was still one thing Annie could do. Look up the name of her next opponent.

And with only one of her hands hard at work on her personal laptop, she began to research long and hard on her next opponent. The one and only, Titus Avison!

She had heard stories of him before from when she was still in high school and finding her way around this unusual and scary world. And as time passed, she had grown to respect the man for being among the cornerstones of WZCW since the very first day.

Even as the Hollywood offers began to come forth, Titus continued to show commitment towards WZCW and it’s audience throughout the years, giving his 110% every time he stepped foot in the ring.

And that was not even getting into his historic reign as champion. Nine hundred and fifty one days as EurAsian champion. A reign of terror that would revive his career and start a new renaissance for the master of the Tit Drop. For a time, the creator of TMZ was seen as having the more prestigious title. For three years, no man nor beast could slay him. Annie had to smile at that notion, the idea of getting this opportunity, to face a legend like him, it was worth more than anything she had ever accomplished in her life.
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And that was what was made potential victory all the more sweeter.

You remember when she said that pride was Keith Kole’s downfall? Well that was Titus’s same pitfall. Not knowing when to check his ego and admit defeat when he fell or take every slight others took upon him and let it roll off of him. The problem? Titus was much better at handling pressure than Keith. At least he could actually back it up with talent.

Regardless, Annie knew first hand what she was up against. And she was going to have to put in the fight of her life if she wanted to even stand a chance against him. And so, as she stared at a picture of Titus Avison, a cold distant expression on her face, she knew exactly what to say to him.

Annie Halloway:Pride comes before a fall...i’ll see to that you face your demise very soon

She slammed the top of the laptop shut, walked over towards her comfy bed and lied onto it smiling wide and falling fast asleep. And while she did, she began to dream of the many ways she was going to hurt Titus Avison.

It was the biggest fight of her life, and she knew that once her hand got back into shape, she was going to train as hard as ever to ensure the glory of ATV.